Sean Lee has to be in DPOY conversation, right?

[The Natural]

I think the award has generally been biased towards pass rushers, if the season ended today the award would probably go to Justin Houston, and well deserved that Chiefs defense has been lights out..but when we talk about the top 3 candidates 7 weeks in, I think Lee has to be in the discussion. Currently 2nd in the league in tackles and tied for most interceptions by a LB with 2.

 

[Future]

Doesn't Robert Mathis have like 12 sacks?

 

[The Natural]

Doesn't Robert Mathis have like 12 sacks?

Yea?

 

[DuceizBak]

People hate the cowboys...I wouldn't be surprised if he was in top contention and people voted against him specifically because he was a cowboy

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Do players win DPOY if they are on a team with a bad overall defensive ranking?

 

[mldardy]

I would think Hatcher should be there before Lee.

 

[The Natural]

Do players win DPOY if they are on a team with a bad overall defensive ranking?

The past 5 winners were Watt, Suggs, Polamalu, Woodson, and James Harrison. I think the Steelers/Ravens defense speak for themselves, not sure how GB's defense ranked the year Woodson won it

edit: I checked, all those teams were ranked top 3..except the Texans last year they were ranked 10. The lowest team ranking to have a player win DPOY were the Eagles 23 (Reggie White) and NYG 14 (Strahan)

 

[Future]

Yea?

That would put him on pace for like 26...easily DPOY

 

[perrykemp]

Lee has been a monster in run game, however, last I checked he had one of the top 5 worst passing ratings for a LB in the NFL as of last week with a 130+ QB rating against and 264 yards allowed in coverage.

He is having a really fine season -- certainly Pro-Bowl worthy, however, you can't by a DPOY when an important aspect of the game like pass coverage is so sub-par.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

The past 5 winners were Watt, Suggs, Polamalu, Woodson, and James Harrison. I think the Steelers/Ravens defense speak for themselves, not sure how GB's defense ranked the year Woodson won it

edit: I checked, all those teams were ranked top 3..except the Texans last year they were ranked 10. The lowest team ranking to have a player win DPOY were the Eagles 23 (Reggie White) and NYG 14 (Strahan)

Thanks for the leg work in getting those numbers.

So it would seem that someone has to do something that is pretty much record setting in order to win the DPOY with their teams defense being below top ten overall.

Not saying that it can not happen for Sean Lee...just probably less likely.

 

[Crown Royal]

Lee is starting to heat up but it's going to take some time for the defense as a whole, Lee included, to get past the first 5 weeks of the season.

Limiting Detroit would be a nice start.

 

[The Natural]

So it would seem that someone has to do something that is pretty much record setting in order to win the DPOY with their teams defense being below top ten overall.

I agree, especially with more of a preference to pass rushers and ball hawks. I just hope Lee stays healthy the remainder of the year

 

[dmq]

Just 2 games ago, Lee was a bust in the 4-3. Can we wait on the awards please.

 

[SDCowboy]

Not even close. He had a good game yesterday, but there are defensive players that have games like that every week. He's starting to heat up finally though.

 

[Hoofbite]

Kiko Alonso maybe

 

[mldardy]

DPOY is probably going to be someone off of KC or SEA. Sherman, Thomas for SEA. Houston, Hali for KC.

 

[JBell]

Like mentioned already, the voters like to give the award to guys who play on top defenses. It's a big reason why Harrison won it over Ware in '08.

Early front runner looks to be Justin Houston right now.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

I think the award has generally been biased towards pass rushers, if the season ended today the award would probably go to Justin Houston, and well deserved that Chiefs defense has been lights out..but when we talk about the top 3 candidates 7 weeks in, I think Lee has to be in the discussion. Currently 2nd in the league in tackles and tied for most interceptions by a LB with 2.

Kiko is a LB and has 4 picks

 

[Kevinicus]

Early front runner has to be Mathis. He's beasting.

 

[romothesavior]

With the way Mathis and the Colts are playing, its Mathis by a mile, at least as of right now.

God... imagine if we could have gotten even half the pressure on Manning that the Colts did last night. We would have been the ones to knock them off.